DowJones wrote:axeman23 wrote:tidho wrote:
by replacing it with LeBron-ball?, lol.
wouldn't do it if i'm CLE.
1) LeBron doesn't want to be here.
2) The defense is absolutely atrocious.
3) Completely gutting the depth.
4) Eliminates the ball movement that actually makes the team both special and fun to watch.
5) Unless I'm missing something, the ceiling is basically the LeBron/AD Lakers now with even older LeBron.
TBH, I didn't see Hunter's name at the start. Okoro and Tyson are clearly expendable for now, and it seems like most Cavs fans are happy enough to dump Garland and Allen to keep Mitchell. I'd prefer to move Mitchell and keep the other 2 (Allen and Garland), or move Allen in a seperate deal (maybe for a more reliable 3/4, to slide Mobley to the 5.) Also with Suggs' money going down as the cap goes up, and (I'm assuming) Lebron taking a paycut for a year or 2 to finish off where things started, it would seem to leave a bit more room around the edges for tinkering.
As for your points:
1. I guess it would be something to be discussed before making the deal, right? If he then stated he didn't want to be here, the deal is OBVIOUSLY a non-starter.
2. The guard defense would improve trading Garland for Suggs, Okoro is pretty much a regular season innings-eater, Tyson hardly played, and like I said, I didn't see Hunter's name in the OP.
3. As above, didn't see Hunters name, and you'd still be getting 2 starters for 2 starters, with Knecht being an able enough, although downgraded, 6th man.
4. WHAT ball movement, in the PLAYOFFS, where it MATTERS? Mitchell to himself off the backboard? The guards playing keep-away from Mobley and Allen to launch ONE stupid 3 after ANOTHER??? Game 5 where we were eliminated, Mitchell had 25 shots (NOT including the attempts where he was sent to the line...), with ONE friggin ASSIST! It's like watching "Honey, I shrunk the Kobe!". After the 1st quarter, JA was 3/3, Mobley was 3/5, Garland/Strus/Mitch combined 4/13. Now, I'm no MATHS WIZ, but it would SEEM like getting the ball to the big men was working, no? Second quarter: 1/1 from Mobley, 1/2 from Allen, 1 of EIGHT from the guards! So after that first half where we had Allen shooting at 80%, Mobley shooting at 67%, and our guards combining to shoot 25%, WHAT shall we do in the 2nd half? "Oh, more of those 25% shooters, please!" Allen got 1 more shot the rest of the GAME, Mobley got 6 (which he managed to hit at 67% again...), while again being outshot handily by our guards (Garland 7 attempts, Strus 8, with zero makes, and Mitchell taking 15??? Oh, but don't worry, Mitchell upped his game in the 2nd half to the GLORIOUS % of... 36%??? You switch Mobley and Mitchell's attempts, we likely win the game. You switch Allens attempts with Garland or Strus', we likely win the game. So, yes, it seems the was "ball-movement" there, as LONG as you weren't over 6'8 and embarrassing the others with your shooting.
5. Suggs if healthy is an All-Defensive guard. Knecht, if nothing else. Is a 3 point threat with more height and length than Garland on the defensive end. Lebron in Cleveland could concieveably be a third option distributor/defender which he was actually starting to turn into on the Lakers with Luka/Reaves taking on more of the offensive load. I'd definately lessen his minutes, though. And Mobley by the end of the season will be a 2-time All Defensive 1st team from 4 years. With all due respect to AD, I take Mobley, and the gap widens almost daily as AD's body (unfortunately) breaks down... Also the fact we're in the pick situation that resembles the Lakers is again, the Mitchell trade. I wanted to keep going with the pre-Mitchell team myself (DEFINATELY swapping out Sexton for a longer 3nD guard/swingman), but what's done is done now. I'd also be willing to run it back again also and hope for better health/a bargain signing or 2, but again, the reason we're fishing around in the bargain is, again, the Mitchell trade. ALL we had to do was let the Knicks or Nets blow their assets on him: just do NOTHING. How hard could it have been to NOT pick up the phone?
Can you tell me what Garland's career playoff numbers are? Can you tell me what Garland's playoff numbers were this year? Can you please explain to me in what world Garland on the perimeter is leading this team better than Mitchell?
Cleveland's playoff problems begin with Garland, not Mitchell. Garland has not come through. He needs to be better.
Did you SEE me singing Garland's praises? No. One thing I WILL say, is he keeps the bigs involved/engaged. Game 5, Garland had 16 shots, 3 assists. Game 4 he had 11 shots, 6 assists. But anyway, the REAL problem, is as a PAIR, Garland and Mitchell are undersized, which is exacerbated when they play Strus or Jerome at Sf. Donovan was a poor target for a team with a small slight PG already on the books who was always going to start with him.